With $338 million in cuts slated for the Bureau of Prisons if the budget cuts occur, 36,700 staffers face furloughs beginning April 21, including officers at Otisville Federal Correctional Institution.

Don Drewett, president of Local 3860 of the Council of Prison Locals C-33, American Federation of Government Employees, said correction officers received a letter two days ago about the furloughs.

They would be required to take one unpaid furlough day per two-week pay period.

The nation wants to lock up criminals, Drewett said, but doing so requires adequate money for prison staff.